Friends Forever....

Most recent picture - driving from Arizona to California
Lillie at about five months
Happy times! (Look how good Happy looked!)
So sweet!
Lillie fell asleep with her stethoscope on.

A day out shopping - Lillie was a little over two years old.

Most of you who know Lillie know that she doesn't hardly go anywhere without Happy. Happy is a hedgehog stuffed animal that I had given Eric back when we were dating. When we were dating my cat had a little hedgehog that he would hide around the house. Maddie, my dog, had a hedgehog that she played with also, so I thought Eric should have one too! When Lillie was about four months old she discovered the hedgehog and would twist it's hairs when she would get tired or when she was really upset. It become a soothing tool for her. She still twists his hairs in those moments as well. I was thinking last night how much joy she gets out of this stuffed animal and what a tragedy it would be if anything were to happen to him. I have looked every valentines day for another one just in case we need a back up but never have had any luck. I mentioned it to my class the other day, a class full of boys, and believe it or not even in sixth grade with only boys in the room several of the kids mentioned their stuffed animals that they still sleep with from their toddler days. I am just touched by the simplicity of things children find joy in and reminded to take everything in stride and one day at a time. Happy has brought much joy to our daughter and us by the friendship she has created with him.

Poor Maddie...

OK last post for tonight.... :) A few nights ago I was petting my dog Maddie and noticed a spot on her face that looked irritated. I watched it the past few nights noticing that it was only getting worse. After it getting continually getting worse, I called the vet and took her in today. It was infected and they shaved the spot and put her on antibiotics. The funny thing about this is she has to wear an Elizabethan collar and she can't judge how big the collar is so she keeps crashing it into the door frames and the bed frame. I know that shouldn't be funny but it is. Here she is in her new collar!

Family in town...

Dick, Katie and Lillie

Lillie's face painting - Ariel!

Lillie and Sponge Bob

Dick and Lillie on the train as it rode by!

This past week Eric's sister and husband came into town from Colorado along with some close friends of theirs. We had a lot of fun tromping around the city doing different things. We went to Splashtown Waterpark one day, to see a cheesy 3D movie (Journey to the Center of the Earth), to get Facials and Massages, and to Kemah one day. Kemah is a boardwalk along the ocean that has a lot of restaurants and rides. It was a fun HOT day! We took a speed boat ride that I laughed and laughed on. Because it was so hot we sat in an area on the boat where we knew we would get wet, we never dreamed how wet though. Mary Jo and John, Eric's parents, sat in the wettest seats on the boat. It was too funny watching them just get drenched with ocean water! After eating we headed to the rides - Katie, Eric's sister, is the only adventurous one that would go on a ride called Chaos with me. You sit in a two seater "cart" and when the ride starts it spins then flips up side down. It was a lot of fun! Lillie asked Dick, Katie's husband, to go on the train ride with her around the boardwalk. Dick is a big kid himself and Lillie loves him! We had a great time and it was so good to get to see them!

Amanda's birthday....

Eric, Allison, Amanda and I on Allison's birthday at Chuck E Cheese.

(not the best of Eric but I loved the girls faces)

Amanda and Lillie on her 15th birthday. She was so sweet to let Lillie help blow out the candles.

Amanda and her boyfriend Andy.

I have been meaning to post some new events but am just now sitting down to do it so there are going to be several short ones. One July 29th Eric's precious niece Amanda turned 15! I can hardly believe how she has grown in the past few years. It has been a joy getting to see her grow and mature into a sweet, beautiful, caring young lady. I wanted to post some fun pictures from her birthday, and one of her when Eric and I were dating. There is such a difference and I can't believe she will be learning to drive this year and then be driving on her own next year! WOW! Hope this year is one of many memories and fun times with your family and friends Amanda!